St Stephen's College principal bizarrely compares himself to Dawood Ibrahim over research scholar harassment case

St. Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu said he is being hounded like an animal, despite not being the subject of the allegation

'I am Dawood Ibrahim, that is why I am being hounded’ said St Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu on Thursday, expressing anguish over the way he is being attacked in connection with a research scholar’s sexual harassment case.

The research scholar had accused assistant professor Satish Kumar, who was her PhD guide, of sexual harassment. She also claimed that Thampu has been shielding Kumar and has put pressure on her to withdraw her complaint.

“I am Dawood Ibrahim. If others are free to morph me into an object of aversion... I am also free to project myself in an extremely self-denigrating image... for the support it might lend to now sagging efforts of the vested interests as well as the media,” Thampu said.

A section of students, the college’s alumni, and women's rights groups has been pressing for his resignation in the wake of the controversy.

“My imagination in this respect cannot go beyond Dawood Ibrahim as he is the ultimate embodiment of aversions. I stand by every word I say or have said. I am not a coward to attribute anything to the ‘incompetence’ of the media. Yes, I am Dawood Ibrahim,” he said.

Thampu, the accused professor, and the research scholar were summoned by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday and the issue was discussed at length during the three-hour-long meeting.

Thampu maintained that he is being hounded like an animal in the case as if he is the accused.

Prior to the DCW hearing, he had sought suggestions on his Facebook page about whether he should appear before the DCW with his face covered as usually all harassers and rapists are photographed with their faces covered.

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“Satish Kumar told the commission today that the girl was not doing her research work properly and she did not work on any segment after March, 2014. He also said that she did not submit reports of any work done by her and is now making attempts to tarnish his image,” one of the officials at DCW said.

Kumar was asked by the DCW chief whether he had reported the girl’s dissatisfactory performance to the university, research council, or the UGC and also directed him to produce evidences regarding the same and his version in an affidavit on August 26.

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St Stephen's College principal bizarrely compares himself to Dawood Ibrahim over research scholar harassment case